Chapter 8 Ash took a second to bask in Torchstar's content glory. {This place is paradise,} she thought, and Ash's firestone chimed. {That's why I'm here...and so are the others, even though they don't say it.} Ember started moving right away. She turned to Jade, and Jade turned to Marigold. Marigold ducked and swooped up to Ash. "Ember says to look for anybody prophet-like." Ash nodded, and then paused. {How come Ember is in charge of us?} she thought, wrinkling her snout. The four of them trudged in different directions. Ash, now happy to be alone, skipped over to a town with a sign reading Vertxqella (pronounce it Vertexilla). In Vertxqella lived a young male dragon in a crown. He was slightly younger than Ash, with warm chocolate eyes and deep indigo scales. {The opposite of Zest!} "I need a prophecy," Ash snapped, hiding her blush. "And you are...?" "Raven," the prince replied. "And yes, I have one." He took a breath. "Four dragons to the Torch of stars, they shall rescue in darker hours." Raven paused. "A Puma surprise awaits, you see, and the talisman and destiny." Ash shook. {Oh, Torchstar.} Raven looked down, now blushing as well. "I have the talisman," he said, and handed Ash a small purple stone. "Who's Puma?" she asked, and Raven gulped. "Currently, her." Ash turned to see a dragon tearing Vertxqella apart. The dragon tied Raven up, and in a heartbeat, Ash's only crush had vanished. Ash growled, her wings turning to flame. But that was before Ash realized this 'Puma' was coming for her. Before meeting her fate, Ash saw a glint of familiar orange and gasped with horror. {No.} Then Ash's world tipped sideways, and just like with her first firestone encounter, the world went black.
OOH This one had it all ships and a cliffhanger.
